New Delhi: The Lok Sabha today (Dec 6, 2004) passed a Bill repealing the anti-terrorist law POTA (Prevention of Terrorism Act).

The Bill replaced an ordinance repealing POTA.

The Samajwadi Party and the BSP (Bahujan Samaj Party) also walked out in protest against the decision not to refer the second bill to the Standing Committee. Both the measures were passed by voice vote.

Registering their strong protests, CPM (Communist Party of India-Marxist) leader Basudeb Acharya and Gurudas Dasgupta of CPI (Communist Party of India) said they favoured repeal of "draconian" Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA) and wanted consultations to ensure that certain provisions of the POTA which have been included in the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Amendment Bill were not misused.

With CPI indicating it could abstain from voting if the Government did not relent on the consultation issue, Mukherjee told the House that amendments could be made in the second bill, if required, even after its passage by the House.

An agitated Dasgupta said, "This is not the way to pass a bill" while appealing to the Congress to de-link the repeal of POTA and passage of the second bill.

Home Minister Shivraj Patil also assured the House that Government would hold consultations with Left parties on the second bill.